Right after I wrote my last blog, I began a journey of faith that I never anticipated.
On Wednesday morning, July 16th, I received a call from my daughter that she was still sick and feeling really bad. ( Also spoke with her on Monday and Tuesday and she thought she had a bug.) But, on that Wednesday morning, she sounded like she was struggling to breathe, which prompted me to call my husband and tell him I needed to head to Dallas. In the meantime, my daughter went to the ER at Medical City in Dallas. By the time I reached the hospital they were preparing to do a CT scan, other tests had already been done. Within a couple of hours, we were told she had double pneumonia and it was not a normal type. It was called atypical pneumonia. She was transferred to ICU and admitted. The seriousness of the situation had not hit me yet. On Thursday, more tests were completed and we were informed that she also had MRSA. (staph infection in the blood) Lacy's throat hurt and so more tests were done. It was determined she had an abscess at the back of her throat and surgery would be required. At 10 pm on that Friday night, she had surgery and was placed on a ventilator. We knew this was a possibility, but honestly thought it would only be for a couple of days. However, as the days passed and lung issues arose, it was determined that she needed to remain on the ventilator longer than anticipated. The next week was rough. Lungs were filled with fluid and pus. Also, pockets of fluid and pus formed around her lungs. The doctors wanted to perform a procedure to drain the lungs, but after further testing, decided it was too dangerous. So a lung surgeon was consulted and another surgery set. At 6 pm, the Friday after the throat surgery, Lacy was taken into surgery once again for surgery on her left lung. After surgery, she had three chest tubes and remained on the ventilator. In the meantime, the infectious disease doctor was still treating her for the staph infections. She received high-powered antibiotics during this time. She had a "pick line" inserted to her upper arm in order for them to draw blood, give iv's, etc. At one point, there were so many tubes, bags, and lines that I lost count. I was told over and over by the doctors that she was very sick and treatment/recovery would take time. One of the ICU doctors emphasized to me that she would probably have a trach placed after the ventilator. ( In other words, he didn't think she would be able to breathe on her own.) However, he did say..."Maybe she will prove me wrong."
This is where faith came in....Well, actually it came a long time back. From the beginning, we were praying and trusting God to heal Lacy. We prayed over every procedure and surgery. I sat in her room while she was sedated and prayed scripture over her. I felt the grace of God and his comfort and I knew so many were praying. I could see her fighting and determined spirit during these times. Praise the Lord, he answered our prayers. One week after her lung surgery, the ventilator was removed and she did fine. By that afternoon, she was sitting in a chair beside her bed and looked good. The one doctor came by and shook her hand. He said..."Well, you proved me wrong." I am so thankful for the doctors and everything they did for Lacy. But, soooo thankful they can be proved wrong sometimes.
Lacy was labeled as "respiratory failure" for 2 1/2 weeks while she was in ICU, endured 2 surgeries, chest tubes, ventilator for 2 weeks, sedated, breathing treatments, collapsed lung, countless IV bags, blood draws and blood transfusion. She was hooked up to tubes, bags, and monitors for many days and hours.
But, praise the Lord, after 29 days she was released from the hospital. She still is on high-powered antibiotics and has weekly labs. Also, will have a CT scan and x ray on Sept 5th to ensure lungs are clearing up. She is still very much recovering, but so much progress has been made.
This is an experience that taught me about love, faith, hope, and the power of prayer.
On Wednesday morning, July 16th, I received a call from my daughter that she was still sick and feeling really bad. ( Also spoke with her on Monday and Tuesday and she thought she had a bug.) But, on that Wednesday morning, she sounded like she was struggling to breathe, which prompted me to call my husband and tell him I needed to head to Dallas. In the meantime, my daughter went to the ER at Medical City in Dallas. By the time I reached the hospital they were preparing to do a CT scan, other tests had already been done. Within a couple of hours, we were told she had double pneumonia and it was not a normal type. It was called atypical pneumonia. She was transferred to ICU and admitted. The seriousness of the situation had not hit me yet. On Thursday, more tests were completed and we were informed that she also had MRSA. (staph infection in the blood) Lacy's throat hurt and so more tests were done. It was determined she had an abscess at the back of her throat and surgery would be required. At 10 pm on that Friday night, she had surgery and was placed on a ventilator. We knew this was a possibility, but honestly thought it would only be for a couple of days. However, as the days passed and lung issues arose, it was determined that she needed to remain on the ventilator longer than anticipated. The next week was rough. Lungs were filled with fluid and pus. Also, pockets of fluid and pus formed around her lungs. The doctors wanted to perform a procedure to drain the lungs, but after further testing, decided it was too dangerous. So a lung surgeon was consulted and another surgery set. At 6 pm, the Friday after the throat surgery, Lacy was taken into surgery once again for surgery on her left lung. After surgery, she had three chest tubes and remained on the ventilator. In the meantime, the infectious disease doctor was still treating her for the staph infections. She received high-powered antibiotics during this time. She had a "pick line" inserted to her upper arm in order for them to draw blood, give iv's, etc. At one point, there were so many tubes, bags, and lines that I lost count. I was told over and over by the doctors that she was very sick and treatment/recovery would take time. One of the ICU doctors emphasized to me that she would probably have a trach placed after the ventilator. ( In other words, he didn't think she would be able to breathe on her own.) However, he did say..."Maybe she will prove me wrong."
This is where faith came in....Well, actually it came a long time back. From the beginning, we were praying and trusting God to heal Lacy. We prayed over every procedure and surgery. I sat in her room while she was sedated and prayed scripture over her. I felt the grace of God and his comfort and I knew so many were praying. I could see her fighting and determined spirit during these times. Praise the Lord, he answered our prayers. One week after her lung surgery, the ventilator was removed and she did fine. By that afternoon, she was sitting in a chair beside her bed and looked good. The one doctor came by and shook her hand. He said..."Well, you proved me wrong." I am so thankful for the doctors and everything they did for Lacy. But, soooo thankful they can be proved wrong sometimes.
Lacy was labeled as "respiratory failure" for 2 1/2 weeks while she was in ICU, endured 2 surgeries, chest tubes, ventilator for 2 weeks, sedated, breathing treatments, collapsed lung, countless IV bags, blood draws and blood transfusion. She was hooked up to tubes, bags, and monitors for many days and hours.
But, praise the Lord, after 29 days she was released from the hospital. She still is on high-powered antibiotics and has weekly labs. Also, will have a CT scan and x ray on Sept 5th to ensure lungs are clearing up. She is still very much recovering, but so much progress has been made.
This is an experience that taught me about love, faith, hope, and the power of prayer.
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